Web Desk 
Dec 07, 2024
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif inaugurated the CM Punjab Free Solar Panel Scheme, aiming to reduce electricity expenses for low-consumption households.
Speaking at the launch on Friday, she stated that the initiative would provide long-term relief to 100,000 electricity consumers across the province.
How to apply for Free Solar Panel Scheme
Residents could apply for the scheme starting Friday via an online portal at cmsolarscheme.punjab.gov.pk or by sending their details via SMS to 8800.
Applications required verification of the reference and CNIC numbers on the electricity bill, with recipients selected through a computerised ballot system to ensure transparency.
CM Punjab Free Solar Panel Scheme
The provincial secretary for energy outlined the specifics of the distribution:
- Households consuming up to 100 units per month would receive 550-watt solar systems.
- Those consuming up to 200 units per month would be allocated 1,100-watt systems.
- The entire scheme would be rolled out over the course of a year.
- To prevent theft, solar panels and inverters would be linked to recipients’ CNICs.
The installation of 100,000 solar systems was expected to reduce carbon emissions by 57,000 tons annually and lessen the federal government’s subsidy burden. The Chief Minister emphasised that public resources must benefit citizens, highlighting that 7.3 million consumers in Punjab had already received a subsidy of Rs14 per unit.
A helpline would soon be introduced to assist users in accessing the scheme. This initiative reflected the government’s commitment to improving affordability and energy sustainability for the province’s residents.
